THE RICHES OF OUR INHERITANCE

            The wonder, power, majesty and glory of God is revealed somewhat in segments throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments.  What we read is unfathomable to our human minds. In Genesis we see God creating the world and all that lies beyond it from nothing but the power of His living Word. Yet, the makeup of every substance of life – plant, animal and human – is perpetual, and the intricacies are beyond human knowledge. God spoke, and it came into existence.  God said, “Let there be light”, and light was.

            In the book of Job we read about God’s storehouses of snow, His authority over lightning bolts, thunder, rain and hail. He laid the foundation of the earth and hung the stars in their places. Everything was done by His design. Some of the prophets saw visions of such splendor that it was impossible to completely describe in words.

            In the New Testament we see the same Word that created everything coming to us in human flesh, casting out devils, healing the sick, raising the dead. Then He allowed His flesh man to be crucified, died and was buried. But He came out of the tomb alive and later ascended back to the Father.

            In the book of Revelation, we see the resurrected Jesus in His glory revealed through the things He showed to John, one of the disciples. John saw Him in such brilliant light and glory that he fell at His feet. When you consider Jesus’ greatness beyond what we could ever imagine, it seems impossible that we could ever approach Him or that He would take notice of us. But in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, He not only made provisions for our sins to be forgiven, but for us to receive His righteousness and to be joint-heirs with Him of the Father’s estate. After He ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and work through us. His Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance. He invites us into the fullness of His kingdom right now where we become sons and daughters of the King of kings.

            Our inheritance is above and beyond anything we could imagine. Descriptions of it use words like abundant, exceeding, great, and glorious. There is treasure to be had and He wants us to have it all, but first we must give Him all of us. Then we can have the riches of heaven.

            “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12, Amplified) Let’s look farther into the Scripture to see some of those wonderful things God has made available to us. If we don’t know about them, we won’t search for them, and we will miss out on all the wonderful riches that belong to us.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”  Jesus doesn’t just offer us life. He offers it to the fullest extent for eternity. He will open the eyes of our understanding to see spiritual things clearly. Satan does not want us to know what God has made available to us. He tries to steal our spiritual enlightenment and destroy our spiritual life.  But if we will accept Jesus’ invitation to deny ourselves and follow Him, we will begin our lives in the kingdom of God, living life abundantly. It may seem odd that such favor and blessing can be given to us even in the middle of this world that opposes us so violently and causes us to endure trials and persecution. But Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” (NKJV) God will feed us and pour out His Spirit on us even as the enemy looks on. He prevails over the enemy.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (KJV) – “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” Just as God moved on the face of the waters and penetrated the darkness with His light, He will do the same for us. He will move in us and enlighten our spiritual eyes with His light. Have you ever seen an object in a dark, shadowy room and it appeared to be one thing, but when the light was turned on you saw it for what it was? Light shows things as they really are. When we look at life through the light of God’s Spirit rather than the darkness of this world’s view, everything becomes clear. In Him is light and there is no darkness at all. Light reveals truth. Although we live in these earthen vessels, God places the Holy Spirit in us with His knowledge, wisdom and discernment. It is up to us to give Him the preeminence and allow the glory of God to be seen instead of our vessels.

Ephesians 3:12 – “In whom [Jesus] we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].”  One of the most amazing privileges we have as children of the King is our access to Him. We can actually enter into His presence by the righteousness of Jesus Christ in us. We should constantly use this privilege, because in His presence we receive truth and confidence in His Word. Impossibilities become possible, pain is eased, confusion gives way to peace. We gain understanding into the deep things of God. In Psalm 84:10, the psalmist writes about the greatness of God’s presence. “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather stand [as a door-keeper] at the threshold of the house of my God than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.” Nothing in this world can compare to the presence of God that He has made available to us. If you want to have an audience with an important public figure, you probably will never get that chance. If you do, it will be through a long process. But the God of the universe has invited us into His presence! Enter in!

1 Peter 1:3-4 (Amplified) – “Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above - spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,”.  We are totally transformed through Christ. In Him we are always changing “from glory to glory”, coming into the fullness of our inheritance that is unending. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Children of kings are taught how to be royal, and are trained to rise up to their calling and position in life. There are people whose job is to prepare them. We are prepared by the Spirit of God Himself for the same purpose. So, let’s rise up to our calling.

Ephesians 1:17-20 – “[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” Without the riches of God’s grace and mercy toward us, we could not receive all the other treasures. Realize your inheritance. It is not symbolic. It is real. It is genuine and legal because it is all based on the work of Christ on our behalf. None of it is because of our goodness. None of it is because we deserve it. If it were based on our merits, we would have nothing from God. But God so loved us that He made provisions for our redemption and equips us for His service, giving us the wisdom, power and authority to carry it out.

Philippians 3:8 (NKJV) – “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” What do we actually give up to know Christ and to follow Him? If what we gain in exchange is far greater and more lasting, have we really given up anything? We give up a life of fleeting tenure that is full of pain, disease, sin and all its consequences; a life that ends in death and hell. In following Christ we gain eternal life and an inheritance far greater than all the riches of this world. Then when this life is over we enter into life in the presence of God forever with peace, joy and complete satisfaction. What have we actually given up?  We receive the supreme privilege of knowing Christ Jesus personally. That is why Paul considered all the persecutions in this life as “light afflictions”. It is difficult for our flesh to deny itself or our physical and emotional being to go through persecution. But the rewards far outweigh the trials.

Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dream], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.” All the riches, power and enlightenment he gives us is to be used for the glory of God and to accomplish the Great Commission of reaching others with the gospel, bringing them into the kingdom and inheritance of God. He will give us more than we can even think to ask for so we can give more than we can imagine. He does this as we let Him freely work through us. What comes to our hands is to go through our hands to bless others and glorify Christ, whether it is a revelation of His Word or a material blessing. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Use what God has given you to touch the lives of others and to build His kingdom. When a blessing comes into your life, ask God how it can be used for His glory. He doesn’t give us spiritual riches and enlightenment so we can exalt ourselves. He gives to us so we can give the words of life to those who need them.

Are you aware of your inheritance?

Are you rising up to your calling and your position in Christ?